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Thursday, April 20, 2017

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced Thursday Mat Latos and Casey Lawrence will start for the Jays over the weekend, taking the spots of the injured Aaron Sanchez and J.A. Happ in the rotation.

Sanchez and Happ are both on the 10-day DL, with Sanchez recovering from a procedure to remove part of his fingernail and prevent blisters, and Happ recovering from elbow inflamation in his left elbow.

Latos started the year in Triple-A Buffalo after signing a minor league contract with a spring training invite with the Jays this off-season. In nine innings with the Bisons this season, the 29-year-old Latos has nine strikeouts and a 1.00 earned run average. Latos is a veteran of eight MLB seasons, and has a career 3.60 earned run average and 1.20 WHIP in 186 starts.

The 29-year-old Lawrence also started the sesaon in AAA Buffalo, but has two appearances with the Jays earlier this season, surrendering three earned runs in two innings, and taking a loss in one of his appearances. With the Bisons, Lawrence has pitched five innings with seven strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA.